Effects of Soils on Forage Utilization in the Desert Grassland

Abstract

This study was made in southeastern Arizona to determine some of the factors affecting utilization by cattle of two key species on three desert grassland soils. Results showed that macronutrient content of the soil and the plants, and corresponding utilization of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and curlymesquite (Hilaria belangeri), were always significantly greater on the Pima bottomland soil than on the two upland soils, but they were not always significantly different between the two upland soils. No consistent relationships were found between forage utilization and micronutrient, sugar or starch content in the plants./El estudio se llevó a cabo en una zona desértica en el Estado de Arizona, E.U.A. Hubo una correlación significativa entre el consumo de forraje y los contenidos de nitrógeno, fósforo y potasio. No hubo una correlación entre el consumo y los contenidos de azúcar, almidón, micronutrientes ni humedad. El consumo fué mucho más significativo en cuanto al forraje en los valles con suelos profundos que en los suelos de las dos mesetas.